Govan Subway Station

Date of visit: November 2024

I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.

I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair

Overall Rating

Originally opened in 1896 as Govan Cross, Govan Subway Station is one of only two subway stations in Glasgow with lift access, the other being St Enoch Subway Station. The burgh of Govan has a long and storied history, but it is remembered by most for the shipyards where over 3,000 ships were built. The same shipyards are mentioned in many of Billy Connolly's stand-up routines. It's also home to Sunny Govan Radio, a community radio station that hosts a variety of programmes, from Steg G's hip-hop shows to Carla Woodurn's Express Yourself, which highlights the work of poets and writers across the city. I was lucky enough to have one of my poems featured on Carla's show. There are a number of cafés and bars in the area in this often overlooked part of Glasgow.

Disabled Access In and Around

Unlike St Enoch, the only other accessible station in the city, this location has only two floors. There are two entrances, both of which are accessible, although the front entrance is easier to manage as a wheelchair user. The rear entrance has a slope and grab rails. Both sides have automatic sliding doors. The ticket booth is on the first level and features low shelves at each of the windows and an induction loop. I've marked down a little, as one of the gates was a bit temperamental; it wouldn't read my ticket when I arrived from St Enoch, and I had to call for help. Due to my height in the wheelchair, the member of staff in the ticket booth didn't see me. I had to ring the bell on my power attachment to get attention. It worked fine on the way out, but it wasn't a great experience. The lifts to the lower level feature a grab rail and braille markings on each of the buttons. The lift was small but could accommodate a powerchair. The platform has a slight slope, with tactile markings at the platform edge and metal seats lining the wall. There are two wheelchair spaces at the front of the train: one vacant space and another with two folding seats. There are rails near each area. The ride is rickety, so it’s not great if you get motion sickness. Due to the River Clyde, the train can be anywhere from 7 to 115 feet below the river's water level.

Parking & Transport

There are plenty of bus routes near the subway station, not to mention the bus station immediately outside. There is some on-street parking in the area and a car park at the nearby Govan Cross Shopping Centre, which features EV chargers.

Accessible Toilets

0

There are no toilets here, though there are accessible toilets in the Govan Cross Shopping Centre, just outside the station.

Staff

The staff were nice, but they seemed to know the gate was faulty and didn't quite know where to look when I was calling for assistance. A little more vigilance there would have been nice.

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